A View From The Topp: Gotta go long, Gotta go hard, Gotta go fast

I first hit the slopes of Big Sky at the age of five. Since then, many family vacations have occurred on the side of a mountain. Since first hitting the slopes, I have become a much more proficient skier (no lie, ask anyone!) and can keep up with my dad. Many long car rides, hours on ski lifts and nights spent playing games are some of my favorite memories from my childhood.
Last week I had an opportunity to spend four amazing days on the slopes with my family and our family friends. The times we spend together are moments I truly treasure. Since my first time on skis to now, I have spent a lot of time on my butt (less now that I'm older!), taken many trips up the ski lift, and certainly left my mark on the slopes...it's safe to say I've learned a few lessons.
Lessons Learned on the Slopes
5 second rule: One of the very first things you learn when skiing with our crew is that the longer you spend on the ground the more likely it is that you will encounter snow fog. What is snow fog? Basically it's when everyone skiing in your group that's behind you when you fall will ski as fast as they can until they get three feet from where you lay, then they stop...abruptly thus spraying you with snow. Regardless of age or gender, you better learn to get up pretty fast when you fall because otherwise you are sure to get sprayed. Word of advice, if you think you might fall let everyone else ski in front of you!
7 hour car rides are the best: Whenever my family goes skiing we always go with the Gussiaas family. The Topp-Gush ski trips are the source of some of my fondest memories. The long car rides with my two best friends have generated stories that we still talk about to this day. I often think our dad's wished we would've had dvd players in the suburbans when we were younger so they didn't have to listen to us play our favorite game 'What would you rather be?'
Gotta go long, gotta go hard, gotta go fast: This is the mantra of the Topp-Gush ski trips. When you only get a few days on the slopes you cherish every moment. It's our anthem, a constant reminder to cherish every second we have on the slopes, every moment we have together. Growing up on the slopes with my family and closest friends is something I am so thankful for. I am glad that my parents allowed the boys and I the opportunity to spend a few days on the mountain every year. I think this a motto we can apply to our everyday life. Life is short, we never know how much time we are given, so we need to cherish every second of it. Set the bar high. Don't stop until you've carved up the entire mountain, or reached your dream!